PDFNH Blog

The Drug-Free NH website is designed to help individuals, families, and communities to get informed, get involved and get help! You will find information on prevention efforts, effects of alcohol and other drugs, guidance on recovery and treatment and links to programs in the Granite State . . . and more.

Sure, you've heard that physical activity might help keep the weight off, but are you familiar with the other reasons physical activity is so important? Here's a look at 10 benefits of physical activity and why you should get moving today!Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes or Diabetes ComplicationsMore than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and anothe...

​Pour me a *soft drink, please. But not a soda. And with a pretty garnish. While soft drinks typically make us think of carbonated beverages, such as Coke or Pepsi, they can actually imply any drink that doesn't contain a lot of alcohol. Those would be hard drinks.​ Summer! That blissful period of between-ness. Many are in-between grades, jobs, or ...

​Someone says they're the designated driver. You know what that means, right? You see them grab a beer from the party cooler. Now what do you think?
Let's do a search engine experiment. Let's Google up "What is a DD?" And share the top responses.
Urban Dictionary says: n. Designated Driver. One who abstains from "partying" so everyone can get home ...

A guest post by ​Kendall Dapprich, Strafford County Public Health NetworkAlthough it is legal for adults over the age of 21 to purchase and possess fireworks in New Hampshire, fireworks can still be dangerous. The safest way to enjoy fireworks this 4th of July is to attend a professional display. If you choose to celebrate the holiday with fir...

​Ah, JUUL. It's not a precious stone or crystal, although it is pronounced like one. JUUL is the name of one company that makes many vaporizers. Its tagline is: The Smoking Alternative, unlike any E-Cigarette or Vape. And they position themselves as anti-cigarette smoking, and decidedly for adults. But the trends born across the country, challenge ...

​Prom and graduations, where safe celebrations and good times can get along.
Safe celebrations. If you're a kid, it sounds so uncool, right? Maybe, but it sounds a lot better than past headlines from the months of May and June. For instance: Teen in Illinois killed in crash after prom (LINK: http://abc7news.com/news/teen-in-illinois-killed-in-crash...

Mariah Larocque is an advocate for substance misuse awareness and has volunteered hundreds of hours towards recovery advocacy. She is on her way to becoming a certified recovery coach after receiving training at Rivier University through the Recovery Coach Academy. She is a volunteer with Hope for NH recovery and is a full time student at The Unive...

The opioid epidemic. Nothing but perhaps 911, Sandy Hook and most recently the Parkland shooting have left such an indelible mark on the public consciousness. Young children growing up in the shadow of staggering overdose numbers, stigmatized media images of people injecting drugs, and personal tragedies often have difficult questions for parents: ...

Small changes can make a big difference in reducing your chances of having alcohol-related problems. Whatever strategies you choose, give them a fair trial. If one approach doesn't work, try something else. But if you haven't made progress in cutting down after 2 to 3 months, consider quitting drinking altogether, seeking professional help, or both...

​April is Alcohol Awareness Month. And you are certainly aware of alcohol--that often intoxicating beverage legal to those 21+, which can cause euphoria, reduce anxiety, drunkenness, and more. And we want to help raise awareness of the state of alcohol in our state of New Hampshire. While some may view having a beer, or attending your first party w...

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Every April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has chosen a different theme to raise public awareness and understanding. NCADD's theme for April 2018 is "Changing Attitudes: It's not a 'rite of passage.'" It is a part of your role as a parent to help your teens understan...

​A Guest post by Lisa Boldin. Lisa Boldin is a Facilitator of Trauma Sensitive Yoga, and a Supervisor for students in the TCTSY certification program at the Trauma Center in Brookline, MA. She offers this evidence based therapy in small group settings and individual sessions throughout NH and MA. Lisa is also an Ayurvedic practitioner who full...

A guest post by Reagan Murphy. Reagan Murphy is a Junior studying communications at Southern New Hampshire University. She first got involved with The New Hampshire Teen Institute in 2011 as a participant in the Leaders in Prevention Middle School program and returned the following year as a participant in the Summer Leadership Program and vol...

​The end of 2017 is in sight. With that comes the hectic nature of getting ready for the new year and often traveling and spending time with family and friends. Today I want to pause and reflect. To be honest, running a non-profit, especially one focused on substance use, pause does not come naturally. I think forcing myself to pause and reflect is...

Guest post by Sheila M Duncan. Since co-creating the character of Trouble The Dog, Sheila has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the issues children and their families are facing in today's world. Also, she continues to donate Trouble plush dogs and books to those who need comfort and hope most of all. Trouble is not simply a plush dog, but a ...

The month of December is a month of celebrating the holidays with friends and family. Sadly, the increased festivities also mean an increased number of impaired drivers on our roadways. Driving impaired is a deadly choice that often carries deadly consequences.According to the NH State Troopers Association, "To date, this year New Hampshire has exp...

​Guest post by Celeste Clark. Celeste Clark is the Executive Director of the Raymond Coalition For Youth and has been involved in the field of substance misuse prevention and community building for over fifteen years. She is a founder, and now the Executive Director, of the Raymond Coalition for Youth, a grassroots community coalition that has been...

It is an important time for prevention work. The Rochester community is lucky to have two SAPs in the school district and have even worked to integrate a LADC into their staff at the high school. Red Ribbon week is the perfect time to brag about all the great work being done while engaging youth and their community. Events can be bigger and feel mo...

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Hampshire supports the nationwide effort to clear homes of expired, unused, unwanted, and potentially dangerous prescription drugs during the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Prescription "Drug Take Back Day" taking place Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.This year, there are more than 90...